Influence of professional development on teachers' self-efficacy. (c2005)

Abstract

Professional Development is related to in-service training of teachers in workshops, and to collaborative work within professional communi tics in which teachers reflect on their practices and exchange ideas and activities. Teacher's self-efficacy is related to thc teacher's confidcnce in hislher ability to exhibit innovative strategies, motivate students and produce change in their outcomes. A study was conducted in a private non-profit school located in Beirut to examine the influence of professional development on teacher's self-efficacy. Qucstionnaires, interviews and observations were conducted to triangulate data results. Participants included fourteen teachers, whereas interviews were conducted with three coordinators who were chosen purposefully. It was found that professional development has positive influence on teachers' self- efficacy. Future researchers could conduct this study on a laiger sample of schools or they can change it into a longitudinal research with statistical measures to obtain more reliable results.